The former agriculture minister and seven former top officials in Bangladesh have been accused of massive irregularities in importing 35,000 MT of rice worth about 133mn taka from India.

The consignment, which was scheduled to reach the Chittagong port on February 25 in 1999, never came. Though the government opened the letter of credit worth 133mn taka with the state-run Agrani Bank to import rice the consignment is yet to arrive.

The report also said though the agreement was signed with an Indian business firm named Ramesh and Company, the committee found no company under such a name during its investigation.